Evidence for the formation of amphotericin B-phospholipid complexes in Langmuir monolayers

To study the interaction of the polyene antifungal amphotericin B with phospholipid Langmuir monolayers and to correlate with stability of phospholipid-stabilized drug emulsions.

Pressure-area isotherms of mixed monolayers of amphotericin B (0-20 mol%) and different phospholipid types were recorded using conventional Langmuir trough methods. Emulsion stability of amphotericin B-containing lipid emulsions was measured using dynamic light scattering.

Incorporation of amphotericin B into monolayers composed of saturated phospholipids (Lipoid E80-3) had a profound effect on the shape of the isotherm. This effect was directly related to the concentration of amphotericin B in the monolayer. At high drug concentrations, the shape of the isotherms became progressively similar to that of pure DPPC, thus exhibiting regions attributable to phospholipid in different phase states. This effect on isotherm shape was not observed following incorporation of the drug into monolayers composed of the equivalent unsaturated lecithin (Lipoid E80).

These results are interpreted as indicating the formation of an amphotericin B-phospholipid complex, resulting in phase separation within the monolayer. The extent and nature of this phase separation was dependent on both the concentration of drug in the system, and the saturation state of the phospholipid component. The relevance of these observations to the stability of amphotericin B drug emulsions stabilised by saturated and unsaturated phospholipid emulsifiers is discussed. These observations may also be relevant to the toxicity of these, and other novel amphotericin B formulations.